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General Information

Salary
£47,657 - £52,040
Working Pattern
Full Time, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
External
Location
London
Region
London
Closing Date
04-Jul-2025
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
SEO
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
6578

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Judicial Appointments Commission Job Description – Senior Selection Exercise Manager

Summary 

Are you adept at managing competing projects and priorities? Passionate about leading teams to deliver their best? An efficient multi-tasker with outstanding stakeholder engagement skills? If the answer is yes, you could be exactly who we’re looking for to join our dynamic operational team.

We’re looking for a Senior Selection Exercise Manager to help us deliver high quality recruitment campaigns at pace. As an independent public body, the Judicial Appointments Commission is responsible for designing, planning, and running recruitment campaigns to select judges in the courts and tribunals, up to and including the High Court, as well as non-legal tribunal members. You can read more about our work on our website: http://judicialappointments.gov.uk

With a new recruitment campaign launched every couple of weeks, and statutory responsibilities to make sure we select candidates on merit and through fair and open competition, it’s essential that our processes are robust, inclusive, and attractive to candidates from the widest possible backgrounds.

Our Senior Selection Exercise Managers play a pivotal role in helping us to achieve that. They lead our operational teams in scoping and running our selection exercises, from liaising with partners to launch the campaign, to overseeing the development and delivery of our shortlisting and selection materials, as well as ensuring our many and varied stakeholders are kept informed and engaged throughout our processes.

While our HEO Selection Exercise Managers have day-to-day responsibility for running recruitment exercises, our SEO Senior Selection Exercise Managers have a vital strategic role in ensuring that their teams deliver efficient, consistent, and high-quality exercises. It’s a challenging, dynamic, and fast-paced role that sits at the centre of our work to recruit the very best judicial office holders of the future.

Main responsibilities

While not an exhaustive list, the role of JAC Senior Selection Exercise Manager includes:

  • Overseeing the delivery of several JAC recruitment exercises from concept to delivery and making final recommendations.
  • Leading a small but busy team of selection exercise managers, quality assurance managers and selection exercise support officers to deliver several high-quality recruitment exercises.
  • Quality assuring selection exercise planning and delivery, including ensuring accuracy in scoring and feedback to candidates.
  • Liaising with stakeholders across the JAC and wider judiciary to ensure the delivery of recruitment exercises that meet the needs of courts and tribunals across England and Wales.
  • Leading the delivery of key operational activities including recruitment briefing sessions and candidate helpdesks.
  • Proactively identifying opportunities for improvement to operational planning and delivery of JAC selection activity.
  • Completing exercise reporting information and budgetary management.
  • Act as a role model for immediate team and colleagues across the JAC.

The duties/responsibilities listed above is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

Essential Criteria

  • Strong project management skills.
  • Excellent organisational skills including the ability to prioritise effectively, deliver on time and provide high quality customer service.
  • Strong stakeholder engagement skills with experience of engaging and communicating with senior stakeholders (equivalent to Director and above within the civil service, Chief Executive and Board Chair in other sectors).
  • Excellent attention to detail in drafting, planning and delivery.
  • Strong communication skills (verbal and written) and the ability to adapt your communications approach for different audiences.
  • A good understanding of how operational delivery, quality assurance, governance and policy are co-dependent functions in a delivery organisation.
  • The ability to quickly learn to use unfamiliar software to a good standard, with appropriate training.

Desirable skills

  • Previous experience of working in a fast-paced operational role or relevant transferrable experience.
  • Previous line management experience.

What we can offer you

We offer a range of benefits including an attractive annual leave allowance, flexible and hybrid working opportunities, and choice of pension schemes. We actively encourage all staff to undertake learning and development as part of their personal objectives and have a range of networks to support and promote inclusivity, wellbeing, and dignity at work among other things.

Recruitment Process Details

Behaviours

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the recruitment process:

  • Delivering at Pace
  • Working Together
  • Leadership
  • Managing a Quality Service

In addition to these behaviours, your experience will be assessed during the recruitment process in accordance with the essential criteria for this role (please see essential criteria section of this job description).

Application process

You need to provide:

  • your CV,
  • a statement of suitability detailing the relevant skills and experience you have (500 words max)
  • written evidence of the three core behaviours for this role: Delivering at Pace, Working Together, and Leadership (250 words per behaviour).

Sift

Applications will be sifted based on the CV, statement of suitability, and evidence of the three behaviours: Delivering at Pace, Working Together and Leadership

Interview

At interview we will assess you against four behaviours: Delivering at Pace, Working Together, Leadership, and Managing a Quality Service.

We will also ask you about your experience. You can find out more about the Civil Service’s recruitment framework here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles

Applicants invited for interview may be required to undertake a brief work exercise either before or on the day as part of the selection process. More details will be provided if you are invited to interview.

Interviews are expected to take place in w/c 28 July 2025. Interviews will be conducted remotely via Microsoft Teams. More details on the arrangements will be provided to candidates invited to interview.

Reserve List

As well as appointing to the vacancy listed above, we may place other candidates on a 12-month reserve list for future vacancies.

Office Attendance

JAC staff are currently working in a hybrid way with a minimum of 2 days per week in the office. Applicants for this role should note that they may be required to attend the office or a JAC interview venue for up to five days a week during periods of selection activity or other required business need.

Further Information

If after reading this job description you require any further information, please contact Rob Aldridge, Head of Operations and Digital:

Robert.Aldridge@judicialappointments.gov.uk

If you have any questions about the recruitment campaign, or any terms and conditions relating to the role, please contact Recruitment@judicialappointments.gov.uk.

Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised role: all successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale.  This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity). 

For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.

All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

Flexible working hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Support

  • A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
  • Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
  • For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
  • Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
  • Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

  • UK nationals
  • nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
  • individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
  • Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Contact Information

MoJ:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference 6578

HMPPS

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference 6578

If after reading this job description you require any further information, please contact Rob Aldridge, Head of Operations and Digital:

Robert.Aldridge@judicialappointments.gov.uk

If you have any questions about the recruitment campaign, or any terms and conditions relating to the role, please contact Recruitment@judicialappointments.gov.uk.

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Delivering at Pace
Working Together
Leadership
Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History, Experience Questions, Statement of Suitability
Experience Questions Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Statement of Suitability
Guidance for the Statement of Suitability
Please use the space below to outline how your skills and experience make your suitable for this role. Please make specific reference to how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the job description.
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Experience Questions, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
Interviews are expected to take place in week commencing 28 July 2025. Interviews will be conducted remotely via Microsoft Teams. More details on the arrangements will be provided to candidates invited to interview.
Behaviours
Delivering at Pace
Working Together
Leadership
Managing a Quality Service
Experience
Your Experience for this role will be assessed at interview. To learn more about Experience and how they are assessed please click here.
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
Experience Questions

Other Assessments

Which assessment methods will be used?
Other 1
Other - Assessment Title 1
Judicial Appointments Commission - Senior Selection Exercise Manager work-based exercise
Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)
You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your CV, statement of suitability and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.
Level of security checks required
Baseline Personnal Security Standard (BPSS)